Stropper



Feb H, 3935 WIE. WATTS Erm.. l 2,030,338

STROPPER Filed Nov. 11, 1955 4 sheets-'sheet 1 /7 I `x x/jms Feb u, m6, W E' WMTS TAL mms3 STROPPER Filed NOV. ll, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ttomey Feb. M, 1936,

W. E. WATTS AL STROPPER Filed Nov. ll, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventm's Feb. M, E936.

W. E. WATTS ET A1.. 2,@30333 STROPPER Filed NOV. ll, 1933 @gli 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 wfg m |O @floh Patented Feb. 11, 1936 PATENTY oFFlcl:

STROPPER William E. Watts and Jesse W. Lowry,

McC'ammon, Idaho Application November 11, 1933, Serial No. 697,650

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a stropper or automatic safety razor blade Sharpener and has as its object the provision of a device of thischaracter Which will accommodate blades' of various types.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character whereby the blade to be sharpened will be held in contact with the strap at an angle other than perpendicular to the sides of the strap so that a better cutting edge is possible.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stropper which is of simple construction and operation and which may be retailed for a nominal price.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the stropper.

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Figure 3 is an elevational View of one form off blade holder.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a clamp element forming part of the holder shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevational View of a slightly modified form of clamp plate.

Figure 6 is an elevational View of still another form of clamp plate.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional View through one form of holder showing the manner of securing the blade therein.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional View through a holder showing the means for holding one end of the clamp plate engaged with its complemental part of the holder.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view through one form of holder with the blade clamped therein.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail sectional View` the base frame showing the stropper in opera- Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that the stropper comprises what may be termed a base frame, the same comprising a bottom plate 5 having upstanding end orflange portions 6 and 'I respectively. At the end 6 thereof the frame is provided with an inverted U- shaped structure 8 the upper member of which at its under side edge is suitably formed to provide a rack bar 9.

At opposite side edges thereof the base plate 5 on its top face is provided with transverse ribs I 0, and inwardly from said edges a transverse guide bar I I is supported between the sides vl and I of the base frame. The strop l 2 is trained over the base plate 5 passing over the ribs I0 and beneath the guide bar I I as clearly shown in Figure 12.

A bar I3 has a pivot hole intermediate its ends as at I4, for receiving a pivot pin which pivots the bar to the plate 5, and said bar is provided at the ends thereof with upstanding apertured lugs I5. A shaft I 6 has the ends thereof journalled in the lugs I5, and on one end thereof the shaft is provided with a gear wheel Il that is in mesh with the rack bar 9 as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 15. The lug equipped ends of the bar I3 operate in suitable slots I8 provided therefore in the sides 6, 1 of the base frame 5.

For oscillating the bar I3 there is provided on the underside of the plate 5 a T-shaped member the head portion I9 of which is provided in the end thereof with. slots in which operate headed studs 20 provided on the under side of the plate 5 for guiding said T-shaped member. The stem 2| of said member is provided with a pin 22 on its free end that operates in a slot 23 provided in the plate 5, and also in a slot 24 provided adjacent one end of the bar I3. To reciprocate the T-shaped member there is provided a suitable handle 25.

Secured to the shaft I6 and swingable therewith as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1 is a blade holder which includes a relatively xed clamp plate 26 formed. at one end with a sleeve 2'I that is rigidly secured to the shaft I6. At one end edge thereof the plate 26 is provided with a spring clip 28, while at a relatively opposite end thereof said plate 26 is provided with upper and lower flanged portions 29 provided with apertures 30, and a notch 3| between the portions 29. Also on one face thereof the plate 26 is suitably recessed or otherwise formed as at 32 to accommodate the thickened edge portion of a Gem razor blade.

When a Gern razor blade is to be sharpened a complemental clamp plate of the type shown in Figure 4 and indicated generally by the reference numeral 33 is used. 'I'he plate 33 is of the shape and form shown in Figure 4 and has one end edge 35 suitably provided to be engaged by the clip 28 in a manner suggested in Figure 8, and a second end edge thereof provided with ears or projections 36 to engage the apertures 30 in a manner suggestedin. Figure 7.

Also when a Gem type of blade is to be sharpened there may be used in lieu of the plate 33 the eomplemental clamp plate shown in Figure and indicated by the reference numeral 31. The plate 31 adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof has retaining clips 38 pressed out therefrom .to engage positively the end edges of the blade 39, indicated by dotted line in Figure 5. This plate 31 is also adapted to have the'end edge 49` thereof engaged by the clip 28, and at the opposite end edge is provided with projections 4I adapted to engage the apertures 30 of plate' 26.

For accommodating what isy known as anAuto Strop type of blade there is provided, complemental to the plate 261a clamping. plate of the type shown. inv Figure 6 and indicated by ther reference numeral 42. The plate 42 is somewhatzonthe order of plate 31 being provided-With blade engagingfclips; 43" pressed. out therefrom to engage in the notch portions 44 of the Auto-strop blade 45 in a mannersuggested in'Figure 10. The plate 42 also. has an edgerfllradapted to be engaged with the spring clip 28i on theplate 26, and ngers or. extensions=v41zadapted to engage. in the apertures3ll of the partsl29 ofJplateZS.

In Figure 1'74 is: shown a complementali clamp plate. indicated by the reference numeral 48.' and which is especially adapted for use in connection with the Gillettev type of razor: blade, the latter, as. is wellknown, being providedz adjacent its end edges with suitable.: notches. Toy engage these notched edge portions oi'r this type of. blade plate 48 has pressed out' from :one` side,Y thereof .protuberancesz49. Plate 48 alsoj hasarr end edge 50 which is adapted to be engaged by the springgclip 28, and at itsother edge projections 5I to engage the apertures 3U of: the 'platef26, as well as a third projectionfil to engage the'notch 3l. of the plate 26.

From the above detailed. description4 it will. be apparent that'instropping a blade, a blade of a particular type is *placedV on the plater26- of the holder, and the proper complemental clamping plate employed to: secure. the bladeV in position on the holder. The stropper is` steadied' by one hand of the operator, and'with the other `hand the operator grasping the handleA 25 exerts alternately aY push and pullV on said handle for reciprocating the bar I9. Asifthe4 bar I9is thus reciprocated motion of said bar is transmitted throughy the pin, and slot connection between the arm 2I of said bar'and the plate I3 for causingithe latter to swing in the arc of a circle rst in one direction and then in the-opposite direction as will' be clear from a studyY of Figures 2 and 15. As the bar I3 is thus moved rotary motion is transmitted to the shaft I6 through the medium of the racli:V 9 and pinion I1 engaged therewith to thereby swing the blade holder first in one direction. then in a relatively opposi'te direction for presenting one side of the cutting edge of the plate to the: strop I2 and then the other side of said blade at the cutting edge thereof to the strop for sharpening; purposes.

It will thus be seen that during the operation of the stropper the blade is brought into engagement with the strap I2 with the edge of the blade extending diagonally across the strap I2 with the result that a very keen edge for the blade will be obtained.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 16 instead of employing the pin and slot connection between the plate 5 and the bar I9 for guide purposes the bar I9 in said figure has lche ends thereof operating in suitable guides 20 secured to the under side of the plate 5 adjacent opposite edges thereof. Also, in this form of the invention there is provided a suitable guide 53 for the stem 2lV of the T-shaped member, the guide 53 being in the nature of a strap secured at its ends to the under side of the plate 5 as shown.

Inv both forms of the invention, an ordinary stropy can be used, with one end of the strop attached to a hook or the like on a stationary support, with the strop passingv through the device, as shown in Figure 12, with the opposite end of thestrop held by the hand of the userv and the other hand grasping the handle 25'. At the end of one stroke of" the. device overv the strop, the parts will' be in the positionv shown inv Figure 15 and then asthe handle 25 moves in an opposite direction for .the next-stroke, thebar I9 slides on thebase=5 until the studs 20 engage thev opposite ends of the slots and this movement of the bar I9 will cause the pin.- 22 to shift the bar'. I3l to its other tilting position and this movement of the bar I3 will cause the pinion I1: tomove over the rack 9 so that the shaft I6 is rocked toY swing the blade holder to place the otherbeveledv edge of the blade against the strop and Vthen further movementnof the handle 25 wili cause the. entire device to slideover the strop so as to bring said edge of the blade along the strop. Thus the single handle 25 is used to change the position oi the blade holder and to movey the device along the strop. However, when' desired,` the blade holder can be swung from one position to anotherv by simply grasping thebase with one hand and moving the handle and the bar L9 with the other.

Having thus described our invention, what is claimed as new is:

A stropper of the class' described comprising a base having flanges. at' its ends and rounded ribs adjacent its side edges, a bar having'its ends connected with 'the flanges and extending across the middle portion of the base and paralleling the ribs, a strop passing over the ribs and 'under the bar, an inverted U-shaped member connected to one end of the base and. having an outwardly bowed bight, the under edge of which is toothed, a carrier bar having its centralv portion pivoted to the upper face of the base, the anges having slots therein through which the ends of the carrier bar pass, the ends of said carrier bar being upturned, a shaft having its ends journaled in said upturned ends, a pinion attached to one end of the shaft and meshing with the teeth of the U-shaped member, a l'-shapedbar slidably supported on the under face of the base, the stem of said T-shapedbar being connected with the carrier bar, whereby sliding movement of the T- shaped bar will impart a rocking movement. to thel carrier bar, and a handle depending from the T-shaped bar, and a blader carrier having one edge connected with the shaft.

WILLIAM E. WATTS. JESSE W. LOWRY. 

